Is it taboo these days to expect people to know and do their jobs? Lately, I’ve been wondering whether expecting people to understand and properly perform the responsibilities of their position has somehow become controversial. In my line of work, mistakes can have serious consequences. Safety depends on people following established procedures, understanding their roles, and taking the time to learn why certain standards exist in the first place. I take my responsibilities seriously, and I believe that if a policy or procedure has been put in place, there is usually a reason behind it—often because someone learned a hard lesson from a previous mistake. What frustrates me is when people become defensive or offended when they are corrected or reminded of those standards. Instead of viewing it as an opportunity to improve or to protect the team, it can be interpreted as being “too critical.” A recent situation involved a clearly written procedure designed to create a safer environment during a potentially hazardous operation. The guidelines were straightforward and intended to reduce risk to everyone involved. When the procedure was not followed, it exposed the team to unnecessary danger and resulted in a near miss. When I pointed this out and referenced the written policy, I was told I needed to “use logic” and not be so critical. But to me, following established procedures is logic. Policies and procedures are not arbitrary suggestions. They are typically built on experience, lessons learned, and sometimes past incidents where people were injured because proper steps were not taken. So I’m curious: Has it become socially unacceptable to expect people to know and do their jobs? When did accountability start being viewed as criticism? And in professions where safety and performance matter, shouldn’t adhering to established standards simply be part of the job? submitted by /u/Prior-Accident520
Originally posted by u/Prior-Accident520 on r/AskMen